Neptune Beach breast cancer survivor embraces journey

She had no family history of the disease

Debbie Cooper was at Palm Garden of Jacksonville for "Pink Out Friday" on Oct. 19. Her family had no history of breast cancer, but she took up the fight with courage. Bobby King Jacksonville.com

Debbie Cooper was 110 feet underwater and losing oxygen. Her scuba-diving tank had run out and she began to panic. Suddenly her husband, Robby, handed her his air valve. They began to buddy-breathe, an emergency rescue-breathing technique.

“If I ran out of air, I knew my husband would be there to help me make it back to the surface,” said Cooper, recalling the life-changing experience.

Cooper, who lives in Neptune Beach, compared it to a baptism.

Two years later on Jan. 10, the healthy 49-year-old with no family history of breast cancer was diagnosed with the disease’s Stage 3. Cooper said she would essentially have to buddy-breathe the next nine months, getting by with the support of her friends, family and co-workers.

Women with no family history of breast cancer are still at risk due to age and gender. The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program reports 12.4 percent of women will develop breast cancer at some time during their lives.

After a week of isolation, Cooper and her yellow lab, Salli, spent a day at the beach. She inhaled the essence from the saltwater air and swallowed her feelings of despair and hopelessness. After a few deep breaths, she told herself, “I can do this.”

Cooper’s treatment began with chemotherapy and was followed by radiation.

Rather than going to a barber as her hair began falling out due to the chemo, she let her daughter, Ashley Guy, cut the leftover strands. Cooper sported a mohawk and buzz cut before it all fell out.

“We cut it off before cancer could take it,” Guy laughed.

According to Kathleen Gargin of Mayo Clinic, Cooper had no major complications throughout the treatments and maintained a positive attitude.

Her “warrior bands,” a collection of bracelets and necklaces given to her by friends, family and strangers, encouraged her to stay strong.

Cooper embraced the journey. Girls’ night outs with her younger sisters continued. She and her brother-in-law had “Who’s balder?” contests.

Her personality blossomed. Fuchsia leggings and a neon pink tutu became her signature look. She created alter egos and wore fashionable wigs. She said pretending to be somebody else enabled her to learn more about herself. There was White Chocolate, a sandy-blond short curly fro, and her favorite Cinnamon, a sassy golden-blond shoulder-width wig.

Jacquelin Harris has been friends with Cooper since 2001. Cooper, she said, is her hero.

“She is the same bubbly energized bunny but a lot more assertive,” Harris said.

Cooper’s treatments ended this month. She is cancer-free and “buddy-breathes” with local women struggling with breast cancer.